Torch



G. R. WARD.

TORCH.

APPLICATION FILEDJUNE H. 1920.

1,376,489. Patented May 3, 1921.

WIT/VESS'S INVE/V TOE gzzww Z7 MTBM UNITED STATES GEOBGE R. WARD, OF IlllIUNHAJIJI PENNSYLVANIA.

TORCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921.

Application filed June 11, 1920. Serial No. 388,245.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. WARD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Munhall, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Torches, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to torches of the general type used by workmen for various purposes, as for example in the inspection of machinery, the running gear of railway trains, etc. Such torches usually comprise a can provided with a spout through which a wick extends into the oil in the can. The wicks, which are usually round, fill the wick spout quite completely, and it is difficult to insert a new wick in a spout, particularly if the end of the wick is at all frayed.

The object of the invention is to provide for torches of the character explained a wick feeder which may be detachably secured to the end of the wick spout.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings of which Figure 1 is a side view of a torch with the wick feeder applied thereto; Fig. 2 a sectional view taken on the line IIII, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a sectional view taken on the line III-III, Fig. 2; Fi 4 a side view of the outer end of the wick spout; Fig. 5 a view corresponding to Fig. 3 showing a modification of construction; and Fig. 6 a sectional view taken on the line VI-VI, Fig. 5.

The torch may be of the form illustrated in Fig. 1, comprising a body 1 having a removable cap 2 through which oil or other liquid to be used may be placed in the body. At one side of the body there is a suitable handle 3, and at the other side there is the usual wick spout 4 which extends from the bottom portion of the body 1.

The form of wick feeder shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, comprises a sleeve 5, the lower end of which is adapted to slip over the outer end of the spout into binding engagement therewith. The sleeve is provided at one side with an outwardly bulged portion 6 in which there is arranged a detent wheel 7 secured to a rod 8 which is rotatably mounted in the outwardly bulged port-ion. When the wick feeder is applied to the spout 4 the detent wheel 7 projects into the spout in a position to engage a wick, the outer end of the spout being preferably provided with a suitable slot 9 for receiving the wheel, thereby making it unnecessary to provide a wick feeder having a long sleeve.

When it is desired to feed a wick into the torch, the wick feeder is applied to the outer end of the torch spout and the end of the wick inserted in the sleeve of the wick feeder until it reaches a position in which it is engaged by the detent wheel 7. The detent wheel may then be rotated by turning a thumb-wheel 10 attached to the rod 8, with the result that the wick may be easily fed entirely through the spout and into the body 1.

In the form of wick feeder illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 the spout 4 is provided with screw threads at its outer end and the feeder sleeve 5 is adapted to engage such threads. The screw threads may be formed directly on the end of the spout or a special threaded thimble may be soldered to the end of a previously manufactured torch spout. This modified form of wick feeder is provided with a detent wheel 7 a mounted similarly to and adapted to be rotated in the same manner as, the detent wheel 7 just explained.

The wick feeder may be removed from the spout after a wick has been inserted, or it may remain attached to the spout for adjusting the wick. In the latter case the end of the wick feeder sleeve may, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, be provided with a laterally projecting guard 1 1 to protect the wheel 7 from heat. According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle and operation of my invention together with structures representing embodiments thereof. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, my invention may be practised with other forms of construction than those specifically shown and described herein.

I claim:

1. The combination with a torch provided with a wick spout, of a wick feeder detachably secured to the outer end of the spout, said feeder comprising a sleeve and a wick-engaging detent wheel rotatably mounted in said sleeve. I

2. The combination of a torch provided with .a wick spout having screw-threads formed on its outer end, and a wick feeder provided with screw-threads engaging the threads on said spout.

3. The combination with a torch provided In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set with a wick spout, ofa wick feeder detachmy hand. ably secured to the outer end of the spout, said feeder comprisin a sleeve, a wick- V 1. in

5 engaging detent whee rotatably mounted Witnesses:

in the sleeve, and a laterally projecting K PAUL N. CRITOHLOW, guard at the outer end of said sleeve. HOWARD L, SNIVELY.

" GEORGE E. WARD. 

